The Woman

6. Research

We sit down at the dining room table, side by side. I pull out all the letters except the one addressed to me. I laid them all down flat for us. "Look they are numbered." Annie points to the top corner of the letters. To my surprise she was correct. I put them all in order then began to read.

The letters all have one thing in common if he doesn't comply his wife will get hurt. "Moriarty is planning something big." I tell her my theory.

"Who is Moriarty?" She asked as her brow scrunched up in confusion.

"Jim Moriarty, he is a dangerous psychopath. He is a spider who spun a web, he has his fingers at each end. He is the mastermind of most disasters, you'll never know he is behind it. He is like the wind, a master of disguise, flowing here and there and gone in an instant. He enjoys pain and suffering, he loves the game almost as much as I do, never less, he's the villain." I explain as I look out the window.

"I see, so I take it he is up to his antics once again."

"Antics no, he's up to a sinister plan, this is only the beginning," I confess. I try to make further deductions on the woman next to me. I couldn't see anything new about her. Again, I barely know her. "Don't worry Sherlock we will figure this out." She places her small hand on my shoulder. I look at her small hand on my shoulder then back at her. "We?"

"Yes, you need my help because you and I both know John isn't going to be much help when it comes to logic." she points out the truthful facts.

"John has helped with so many cases that you don't even know." I snort.

"Yes, but you were the brains behind each one." She rebuttals. She is a clever girl but I will not let her get close to me. If Moriarty is being truthful then she is an agent inside my own flat. I could make her think I'm her "friend" and learn about her, she will let something slip sooner or later. I could try the 'keep your enemies closer' saying.  "I apologize, you are correct, I could use your help." I lie to her. I could tell she bought it by that big white smile that appeared on her face. "Well, I'll help you as soon as I get back from the store."

"Shopping? Why are you going shopping?" I ask her completely baffled. One minute she wants to help with the case and now she wants to go shop?

"I'll come with you." I insist I want to keep an eye on her.

"No, you stay here, eat supper and wait for John to come back." She flashes me a kind smile. She doesn't want to be followed, she is clearly up to something.

"Very well." I comply with her. With her out and about I have time to search her room. I watch her leave the flat getting into her truck. I hurry down the old creaky stairs to her room. I notice she locked the door keeping any unwelcome guests out. I pull out a locking kit start on unlocking her door. The door came unlocked quickly, I walk in looking for anything out of the normal. She is a very clever girl, she wouldn't have anything out in the open. Her room looked the same as it did the other day. She had a green sleeping bag, a big fuzzy white blanket that Gordo likes to lay on, a pillow in a green pillowcase, a bottle of water next to the sleeping bag, for when she gets thirsty in the middle of the night. I walk to the bathroom to see nothing but her toiletries. She must be hiding something, no one is that nice or sweet. She was a sniper, she shows no sign of PTSD or other trauma from war. She must have a heart of stone if she is fine with taking life. She may be more like me than I realize. I must admit she does put on a great act. I walk out of her flat closing the door behind me before walking back into my flat. I only have one option left, the one man who would know all about this individual. I pull out my cell calling Mycroft, who picked up right away.

"What is it, Sherlock?" He sighs exasperated.

"Come to my flat I have matters to discuss with you."